The annual Roots conference gathers culinary leaders from all corners of the globe to The Chef’s Garden in Huron, Ohio to discuss their work with like-minded individuals who share the same passion, commitment, and motivation to improve our debilitated food system.

At Roots, chefs, farmers, academics, food scientists, journalists, research and development experts, and general consumers gather together in an inspiring environment to examine ways to collectively contribute to the efforts currently underway to enhance the way we farm, cook, eat, shop, analyze data, and conduct research.

The goal of the conference is to provide tangible solutions, inspire thought-provoking conversations, exchange crucial information, and forge powerful connections between people from across the planet who are working in their kitchens, fields, laboratories, and offices to improve the health of our food system, uphold traditions, preserve endangered foods, and repair damaged ecosystems.

The conference will stress not only the importance of adhering to and preserving important culinary traditions but also illustrate how vital it is to look to the future for sound solutions for the problems we collectively face.

We will utilize and examine cutting-edge technologies that are being used throughout the world to improve and enhance our food system and examine critical work taking place in fields as diverse as science, academia, journalism, agriculture, and gastronomy that equates to real and lasting change.

The primary goal of the Roots conference is a lofty one; to be at the forefront of change by building a platform that is considered a vital place people turn to for solutions. We hope it is a conference that inspires them to continue their endeavors no matter how challenging they might be, and enables them to improve their work by using the connections, tools and knowledge they gleaned by attending.

Roots is a fellowship of individuals, both presenters, sponsors, attendees, and organizers alike, who are committed to getting things done for the sake of our food system today, and for the betterment of our planet tomorrow.

We invite you to attend Roots to empower yourself, to connect with others who will support your good work, and to hear about encouraging work others have undertaken to accomplish real, tangible, life changing results that affect us all and have made fundamental differences in our world.